I have trouble making friends because I’m shy. Any advice?
Making friends can be hard for everyone – especially in new environments. However, knowing that you’re in the same boat as everyone else can be helpful. If you’ve always been shy, finding other people who also appear shy can foster a friendship built on a common personality. More importantly, stepping outside of your comfort zone and branching out to speak to new people will definitely help you make friends since a friendship can’t start without a conversation.
My younger sibling copies everything I do. How do I set boundaries without hurting their feelings?
First and foremost, when a younger sibling copies a large amount of what you do, most of the time it is out of a good place – they look up to you and want to be like you. Understanding where they are coming from can help ease tension that they create in your life. If their copying of your activities and actions becomes too irritating, sitting down with them and having a heart-felt conversation about how it makes you feel upset should help. If that doesn’t work, then try getting your parents involved as they have more authority to control your siblings’ actions. However, remembering that some time in the future they won’t copy you anymore and won’t admire your actions as much may make you rethink your decision.
How do I balance schoolwork, sports, and free time without burning out?
Try schedule blocking. Blocking out times of each day that you will allocate to schoolwork, sports and freetime can be very useful to managing your time and ensuring you’re not being overworked or losing track of time.
I like someone but have no idea how to approach them. Help?
If you have no classes or common activities with the person you like, try texting them or asking one of their friends if they’re interested in you. If you want a more upfront approach, simply try making small talk with them when you see them and let the conversation flow naturally from there.
I feel like I don’t fit in anywhere. How can I feel more confident?
Feeling alienated from the world around you can be very lonely and burdening. Normally, this does spring from a lack of confidence. So to be more confident, you can practice making small talk with strangers, find a style or look that makes you feel good and confident, and most importantly, stay true to yourself. When you are your authentic self, someone is bound to admire your authenticity and you’re bound to find your place.
How do I stay motivated when everything feels repetitive?
Repetitive-feeling cycles of life can be very mentally exhausting and strenuous. However, to stay motivated, you can try and find new hobbies that spark your real interests or explore hobbies to find new passions. Staying excited and passionate about something can be motivation in itself and cease feelings of repetition in everyday life.